Erdogan in New York: 'Yes to Integration, No to Assimilation'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed Turkish-American and Muslim community leaders at Gotham Hall in New York on Monday evening during his visit for the UN General Assembly. The event was organized jointly by TASC, UID, MUSIAD, and USCMO.

Erdogan described the gathering as a reflection of a deep-rooted heritage stretching from the Ottoman-era Gulcemal steamship to today's institutional presence across the United States. He emphasized a brotherhood transcending passports, borders, and geography, citing a hadith stating that a Muslim is a brother to another Muslim.

“We say yes to integration, no to every form of assimilation.”

The president sharply criticized Western expectations for immigrants to assimilate rather than integrate. He declared that Turkey says 'yes to integration, no to every form of assimilation,' arguing that preserving one's mother tongue and culture does not hinder social harmony.

Erdogan highlighted the community's contributions in science, business, health, and law, citing Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar as a source of pride. He pledged continued support for the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) projects strengthening ties with the homeland.

The speech framed the diaspora's role as a bridge against rising global Islamophobia and xenophobia. Erdogan vowed that the community would never accept second-class status while fighting injustices from Gaza to slanders targeting Turkey.